Published: Just now
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö does not believe that Sweden’s opportunity to become a NATO member is impaired when Finland is now taking the lead.
– No, I see no such risk at all, he says to SVT’s Agenda.
Niinistö also does not think that Finland has let Sweden down when the countries do not join the defense alliance at the same time.
– Do you think we should have refused Turkey to ratify? It sounds a bit crazy, he says to SVT.
– It would have been a terribly difficult situation if we had said no to Ankara.
When asked what it means for the security of the two Nordic countries if Sweden’s membership drags on, the president replies:
– Now it is the case that Finland, Sweden and Denmark are considering and discussing a direct agreement with the USA, just as Norway already has. And I think that is a big change, almost bigger than NATO membership. If we all have a direct agreement that is quite similar to the US, that means a lot.